People across Harborough urged to have their say on new health services - deadline is fast approaching

People across Harborough are being urged to have their say now on a massive new £450 million boost for hospitals and health services in Leicestershire.

The urgent call is being made by Cllr Phil King, who leads Harborough District Council.

The Conservative council chief sent out his SoS to people to act as a three-month public consultation on the sweeping cash package to overhaul and update acute hospital and maternity services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland comes to an end.

Phil told the Harborough Mail: “Please get this message out to all of your readers and as many people across Harborough as you can.

“The deadline for people registering their views is Monday December 21.

“I cannot stress that enough – this is crucial.

“You have only a few days to make your comments known.

“It is absolutely critical that you tell the NHS exactly what you think and what you would like to see.”

He said an A5-sized leaflet spelling out the ambitious Building Better Hospitals for the Future blueprint should have been delivered to every property in Harborough as well as throughout Leicestershire.

“But many of these leaflets have not reached people because it seems as if there has been a real problem with distribution.

“And that’s not just in Harborough but in other parts of the county as well as far as I understand,” stressed Phil.

“So I want to appeal to people here to act now.

“Please go on to the Building Better Hospitals for the Future website and tell them what you think.

“Time is of the essence.

“We are fast running out of time to have our say and to make an impact.

“So this is a serious concern because we are talking about local grassroots democracy in action here.

“There is talk, for example, that all elective or non-emergency surgery for local people will be carried out at Glenfield Hospital,” said Phil.

“But it’s not easy for older people and those who don’t drive to get to Glenfield from Harborough.

“Public transport isn’t very good – and it’s not the most accessible of places.

“We also have to find out how the NHS proposes to go forward with St Luke’s Hospital in Market Harborough.

“Don’t get me wrong.

“We desperately need this massive investment in our local hospitals and health services.

“It’s long overdue.

“But we need to know how this massive package will work for local people on the ground here in Harborough.

“So please go on to the NHS website as soon as you can and make your views known.”

You can fill in the questionnaire on the NHS website here: https://www.betterhospitalsleicester.nhs.uk/And you can read our original story breaking this vast investment scheme here: https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/health/new-ps450-million-boost-leicestershire-health-services-harborough-residents-asked-have-their-say-2985581